Operator of 'revenge porn' website convicted, facing up to 20 years behind bars

The operator of a once-popular revenge porn website that allowed disgruntled people to post nude photos of their ex-lovers online is facing up to 20 years in prison.

According to prosecutors, 28-year-old Kevin Bollaert operated ugotposted.com, a site that allowed people to post nude images of others without their knowledge or permission. During 2012 and 2013, the site hosted more than 10,000 explicit images – most of which were women.

Often times, the anonymous posters would attach the victims’ names, cities and even Facebook profiles to uploads.

Adding insult to injury, Bollaert also ran another website – changemyreputation.com – in which victims could pay upwards of $350 to remove offending images from his other site. Prosecutors say Bollaert earned tens of thousands of dollars through this racket.

Several victims testified during the trial. One woman, who said she was thrown out of her home as a result of photos getting out, said it ruined her life and she’s still dealing with it.

The defense argued that, while his actions were gross, immoral and offensive, they weren’t illegal. According to Bollaert’s lawyer, Emily Rose-Weber, he simply took advantage of “human weakness” but didn’t break any laws by letting others post explicit images.

It’s the first conviction of a revenge porn website operator but not the first conviction for someone involved in revenge porn. That honor goes to Noe Iniguez who was sentenced to a year behind bars last December for posting a topless photo of an ex-girlfriend on her employer’s Facebook page earlier that year.